Without having seen a single snap on Saturday, you can learn exactly how Notre Dame faired Monday morning, based solely on Regis Philbin’s mood as he greets his audience at “Live with Regis and Kelly.”

An Irish alum (Class of ’53), Philbin makes no secret of his fandom and desire to wake the echoes. When it came time for Joe Garner’s book, Echoes of Notre Dame Football: Great and Memorable Moments of the Fighting Irish, to be recorded onto accompanying CDs, it was Philbin that was tapped as the voice for the project.

The 77-year old Philbin still makes annual trips to South Bend, and often speaks at pre-game pep rallies and in an interview with Esquire in 2004 said, “I love Notre Dame. I want my ashes scattered there.”

But perhaps the test of a true fan is unabashed loyalty and optimism, which often manifests itself in outrageous wagers. Regis has that covered, too: just last week he bet ESPN’s John Saunders $1 million that Notre Dame would win 11 games this season.